Interdisciplinary Education and Practice Has Its Time Come?

Support for Interdisciplinary Approaches in Emergency Medical Services Education

“…The concept of interdisciplinary healthcare education and having students from different disciplines learning to practice together dates back to 1948 in the United States (Singleton & Green-Hernandez, 1998). However, healthcare students are educated in the same isolated way that has been done for years despite claims that healthcare education is evolving (Dufrene, 2012).…”

“…The isolated approach to healthcare education continues despite different healthcare professions sharing core values, knowledge, and skills (Engum & Jeffries, 2012). The need for interdisciplinary education in healthcare is supported by shared values amongst the different types of healthcare providers and because interdisciplinary practice increases the effectiveness of patient care provided in the clinical arena (Barnett, Hollister, & Hall, 2011;Singleton & Green-Hernandez, 1998).…”

“…Barnett et al (2011) described the interdisciplinary health team as a group of consistent, relevant individuals of different disciplines with interactions directed by a specific purpose and positive patient outcomes. Benefits from an interdisciplinary approach in healthcare delivery have been identified as greater patient satisfaction, better outcomes, cost-effectiveness and increased use of non-physician providers (Barnett et al, 2011;Singleton & Green-Hernandez, 1998). Hosny, Kamel, El-Wazir, and Gilbert (2013) described the importance of learning about healthcare as a whole rather than a collection of discrete but disjoined actions performed by individual providers.…”

“…Hosny, Kamel, El-Wazir, and Gilbert (2013) described the importance of learning about healthcare as a whole rather than a collection of discrete but disjoined actions performed by individual providers. Singleton and Green-Hernandez (1998) suggest early involvement of interdisciplinary education results in more positive professional outcomes, for example a greater understanding of and respect for one another. Others described how interdisciplinary education in healthcare results in a better understanding of one's own role on healthcare teams in addition to increased competence and self-efficacy (Dufrene, 2012;Nishisaki, Keren, & Nadkarni, 2007).…”

“…Others described how interdisciplinary education in healthcare results in a better understanding of one's own role on healthcare teams in addition to increased competence and self-efficacy (Dufrene, 2012;Nishisaki, Keren, & Nadkarni, 2007). These benefits increase professional collaboration and teamwork in healthcare settings (Dufrene, 2012;Nishisaki et al, 2007), which can result in improved patient care (Dufrene, 2012;Singleton & Green-Hernandez, 1998).…”